Today's News

If it's true that for decades that Carroll County people just didn't talk about the 1912 courthouse shootout, maybe it's time for that taboo to change.
One fact is inescapable as we approach the 100th anniversary: Ignoring the effects of the melee and bloodshed that arose from Floyd Allen announcing that he would defy a court-imposed jail sentence sure hasn't made this bit of Carroll's past go away.
Perhaps, in a way, it should be embraced.

HILLSVILLE — Drama arising from the idea to observe the 100th anniversary of the 1912 courthouse shootout with a play isn't unexpected, says playwright Frank Levering. But he still feels the story needs to be told.
Questions remain about where a play would be held and who would participate in the observance about the violent confrontation between members of the Allen family and Carroll officials.

Gov. Bob McDonnell, an outspoken critic of the federal health care overhaul passed by Congress, has appointed an advisory council to develop strategies for implementing it.
McDonnell on Monday named 24 members of a Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council, assembling a group that includes hospital and insurance executives, business leaders, state officials and legislators from both parties.

Debbie Harris of Galax rolled through town last Thursday afternoon in her brand new Dodge Challenger, estimated at $40,000, that she won through a Virginia Lottery ticket called Muscle Car Money Scratcher.

The Wythe-Grayson Regional Library system welcomed its new director July 1.
J. Sara Paulk was appointed as new regional library director by the Wythe-Grayson Regional Library Board of Trustees.
Paulk comes from Georgia, where she served as an assistant director, a head librarian and a reference librarian in three different library systems.
She also worked in Concord, N.H., and Brooklyn, N.Y.
Paulk, along with her family, will be living in Grayson County.

Carroll County entered its final Southwest District golf match of the regular season in search of its first win as the district’s unique mini-tour hit the homestretch this week.

The SWD gets its regular season championship drama over with in a hurry and will have its six-match district schedule over with by yesterday, including a stretch of five matches in nine days. SWD teams then move on to nondistrict matches until reconvening Sept. 28 for the district tournament.

MARION –– Galax’s golf team went two different directions last week, but wound up at the same place – on top.

Splitting up for a pair of events on the same day, Galax won the 11-team Bank of Marion Classic at Holston Hills, while the B-team claimed a three-way match at Great Oaks C.C. in Floyd.

Tyler Rutherford led Grayson County to a third-place showing in the team standings by winning the individual championship, edging Galax’s John Bryant by two strokes to come in as low individual with a 71.

ELK CREEK –– It was another exciting weekend of racing at Elk Creek Dragway, with a card that kicked off with the popular ATV race on Friday. Wayne Horton of Hillsville took the win with a final-round 12.93 e.t. at 42 mph. Travis Hash of Independence was in the runner-up spot with a 10.17 e.t. at 51 mph.

MOORE COUNTY, N.C. — A man who scammed the pastor and congregation of a Galax church out of money with a made-up tale of woe could spend 36 years in prison.
David Oneal Twitty, 46, visited the Assembly of God in Galax, pulling parishoners' heartstrings with his tried-and-true story of personal tragedy.